Southeast Asia’s Largest Gathering of Tea, Coffee, Sweets & Bakes and Gelato

PHOTOS: CEMS

Singapore takes the center stage as the host for Café Asia 2015, International Coffee & Tea Industry Expo 2015 (ICT Expo 2015) and Sweets & Bakes Asia 2015 from 19 to 21 March 2015. Held at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre Singapore, Hall E, the concurrent shows will gather more than 100 exhibitors from 20 countries and span 6,000 square metres at the largest gathering of players from the tea, coffee and bakery industries.

Café Asia 2015 has established itself as Southeast Asia’s trade and consumer event dedicated to the region’s café and teahouse communities. It brings together café and teashop owners, managers, importers, exporters, distributors and suppliers of machinery, equipment, and raw materials. It is a dynamic B2B platform for the sourcing and buying needs of key decision makers and for them to explore new opportunities for collaboration.

Concurrently, ICT Expo 2015 serves as a springboard for local and international industry players to tap into Asia’s huge market potential, and for them to gain in-depth insight of the latest market trends and developments. The platform also offers them opportunities to raise brand awareness and to forge strategic business contacts among key suppliers, industry buyers and exhibitors.

The second edition of Sweets & Bakes Asia showcases a range of products and services for the baking and confectionery industries’ supply chain, from machinery to equipment, to ingredients and packaging. It serves as a one-stop hub for baking and confectionery industry professionals to source for suppliers and vendors, to explore business opportunities, as well as to stay up-to-date with the latest innovations and developments in the industry.

At 2pm on 20 March 2015, experts from the coffee and tea industries will gather at the first roundtable to address the topic “What you need to know before starting a cafe or F&B business in Singapore”. The panel has been organised to help young artisan brewers, baristas and latte artists realise their aspirations of staring their own business.

The shows will also open their doors to the trade on 19 March and to the public on 21 March where fun-filled activities on everything coffee, tea and bakery including exclusive workshops, classes, and demonstrations of the latest technologies, trends and techniques will be showcased. There will be various tasting sessions that are nothing short of a feast for the senses. The brew bars provide the ideal opportunity for coffee lovers and visitors to sample coffee brewed by the various coffee companies at the show.

This year, the shows will be co-located with the much-anticipated second edition of Gelato World Tour. Gelato World Tour 2.0 will start in Singapore from 20 March to 22 March 2015, making it Asia’s first Gelato Capital of the World for three consecutive days. This extraordinary event at Marina Bay Sands will flag off the “Formula One of Gelato” and also celebrate fifty years of the Singapore Republic in the ‘coolest’ way.The show will travel to Tokyo in September this year and then to Shanghai on the second leg of its world tour. In its first edition, Gelato World Tour has toured seven gelato capitals in the world, namely Rome, Valencia, Melbourne, Dubai, Austin, Berlin and Rimini.

Gelato World Tour is the first international travelling competition in search of the best flavours in the world and is directed by the prestigious Carpigiani Gelato University and Sigep, the world exhibition for artisan production of gelato, pastry, confectionery and bakery products held in Rimini, Italy. The show’s mission is to spread the culture of Italian-style gelato, a fresh, artisan food product throughout the world.

Achille Sassoli, Director of the Gelato World Tour said “Our 16 Gelato artisans have vast experience and expertise between them, producing a sumptuous array of flavors. Many also emphasize the nutritious potential of one of the world’s most popular desserts: Gelato is high in proteins, calcium and vitamin B2, while containing around half the fat of typical industrial ice creams. It is sure to an exciting and fruitful competition,”

Visitors will be invited to vote for their favorite flavor from the top 16 finalists with a Gelato Ticket, which can be purchased at the Gelato World Tour Village. Each ticket is priced at SGD12 for 8 tasting portions in cones of 40 grams each. Visitors can participate in the Taste & Win draw where they stand to win fantastic prizes. The votes of the visitors and Gelato World Tour’s Technical Jury will determine the top three flavors to represent the Asia Pacific region at the Grand Finale of the Gelato World Tour 2.0 to be held in Rimini, Italy in 2017.

Highlights of the 3 day Event

Café Asia 2015, International Coffee & Tea Industry Expo 2015 and Sweets & Bakes Asia 2015 will be held from 19 to 21 March 2015, 10pm to 6pm (19 & 20 March), 10pm to 5pm (21 March) at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre Singapore, Hall E.

Gelato World Tour 2.0 will be held from 20 to 22 March 2015, 12pm to 6pm daily at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre Singapore, Hall E.

Entry to the event hall for the above-mentioned event is free or all visitors. The highlights of the 3 day programme will include:

Roundtable Discussion: Starting a Cafe

Date: 20 March 2015
Time: 2pm – 3.30pm
Venue: Hall D, Roundtable Discussion Room at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre

On March 20, a panel made up of café experts, bankers and franchise consultants will be addressing the topic on “What you need to know before starting a cafe or F&B outlet in Singapore”. The panelists aim to offer advice to young entrepreneurs or mid-career individuals who want a shot at running their own business venture and present case studies of successful café ventures.

The topics include winning concepts, effective sourcing, subsidies and grants, support from your banker and effective promotional avenues.

To register call 62788666 or visit : http://www.cafeasia.com.sg/en/page/69/roundtable-discussion-starting-a-cafe.html
Information of Roundtable Discussion Panelists can be found here: http://www.cafeasia.com.sg/en/page/71/roundtable-discussion-panellists.html

Academia IFI presents: My First Gelato Shop 

Date: 20 March 2015 to 22 March 2015
Time: 1:00PM, 3:30PM, 5:30PM and 7:30PM daily

Educational workshop on how to design successful gelato shops. Aimed at aspiring professionals that want to know the ins and outs of the gelato business

The Tonda Challenge by IFI at PreGel tent 

Date: 20 March 2015 to 22 March 2015
Time: 4:30PM daily

A battle to the last scoop between gelato artisans to prepare the perfect gelato cup. Who will win the Golden Gelato Spatula? An Awards Ceremony for the World’s Best Gelato, Tonda Challenge by IFI and Stack it high showdown by PreGel would be held on March 22, where it will be an emotional moment where the gelato artisans are rewarded for their dedication and hard work.